The main character, protagonist, and narrator of The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen is a sixteen-year-old girl that lives with her sister, Primrose, and her mother in District 12, the mining district, of the future world of Panem. Described as having slender olive skin and dark hair, she resembles her deceased father, a worker who died in a mine explosion. As the rest of District 12 lives in poverty and constant hunger, Katniss helps her family by hunting outside the fenced area of the mines and into the woods, where food is abundant. Here she met Gale Hawthorne, another youth from District 12 working hard to support his large family. The two would form a hunting partnership. Katniss’ dexterity with the bow and arrow can be attributed to their hunting sessions almost daily. After Primrose was selected for the Hunger Games, Katniss selflessly volunteered herself to go in her place, out of love for her sister. Katniss and Peeta Mallark were chosen as the District 12 candidates of the 74th Hunger Games. Inside the games, Katniss used her hunting skills to help her survive and eventually win the games with Peeta. During the end of the Games, however, Peeta and Katniss’ relationship has become complex and soon she is confused about her feelings for Gale and Peeta. Katniss’ fatalist view to her role in the Games, paradoxically combined with her determination and assiduous will to survive had helped the District 12 tributes win the Hunger Games. Peeta Mallark:
The male tribute of District 12, and also the son of the neighborhood baker, sixteen-year-old Peeta Mallark can be described as being stocky and of medium-height. He also has blue eyes and blond hair not unlike Katniss’ mother and sister Primrose. Peeta’s first interaction with Katniss was from when they were eleven-years-old, when Peeta would give the poor and hungry Katniss a few loaves of bread. Peeta would later admit that since this moment he has had a romantic interest in Katniss. During the initial stages of the Games, it was clear that Peeta had a talent for manipulating the Capitol audience with his convincingly romantic interactions with Katniss, which would win the sympathy of many viewers. During the games however he was fiercely protective of Katniss, sacrificing his personal safety in exchange for hers. Later after the rules of the games were changed to allow both of the tributes to win together, Katniss would nurse the injured Peeta back to health, much to the approval of the public viewers. Their seemingly romantic escapades would later break Peeta’s heart, as Katniss admits that her part was only for the camera, while Peeta’s feelings towards her are genuine. Throughout the Games, Peeta’s easygoing and placid demeanor helped relax Katniss and relieved the stress of staying alive.
The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins
Major Character Analysis
Katniss Everdeen:
The main character, protagonist, and narrator of The Hunger Games, Katniss Everde
Peeta Mallark:
The male tribute of District 12, and also the son of the neighborhood baker, sixteen-year-old Peeta Mallark can be described as being stocky and of medium-height. He also has blue eyes and blond hair not unlike Katniss’ mother and sister Primrose. Peeta’s first interaction with Katniss was from when they were eleven-years-old, when Peeta would give the poor and hungry Katniss a few loaves of bread. Peeta would later admit that since this moment he has had a romantic interest in Katniss. During the initial stages of the Games, it was clear that Peeta had a talent for manipulating the Capitol audience with his convincingly romantic interactions with Katniss, which would win the sympathy of many viewers. During the games however he was fiercely protective of Katniss, sacrificing his personal safety in exchange for hers. Later after the rules of the games were changed to allow both of the tributes to win together, Katniss would nurse the injured Peeta back to health, much to the approval of the public viewers. Their seemingly romantic escapades would later break Peeta’s heart, as Katniss admits that her part was only for the camera, while Peeta’s feelings towards her are genuine. Throughout the Games, Peeta’s easygoing and placid demeanor helped relax Katniss and relieved the stress of staying alive.